CUBA, WHERE THE WINNER BECOMES A PUNISHED OUTCAST
By Juan Antonio Sánchez, Cuba Free Press (as translated by a volunteer).

HAVANA - Ana Sixta Zambrana, a young teacher of pre-schoolers was the
object of a "Rejection Rally" in the municipality of Mantua, Pinar del
Rio Province. The reason? She had won a lottery; the prize was the
granting of a visa by the U.S. government.

Ana has been working in the "Valientes Mambisitos Day Care Center"
(The Mambis were the freedom fighters at the time of the Cuban
Independence War against Spain near the end of the last century). Soon
after the news broke, she was fired. Her neighbors' heard that she
was dismissed because she was a possible emigrant.

Ramona Rodríguez Obregón, the day care center's manager organized the
Rally which was held in front of Ana's house. Ms. Zambrana, who also
has been a nursing student has also been expelled from the university.

Reports are that unemployment has caused the young woman serious
economic problems. She has lost her livelihood and that of her child.
When asked about the case, local authorities said, "This is the way it
has been planned. These measures are compulsory, and they are
rigorously applied."